Joern Hackbarth, CTO, Ampyr Solar Europe, leads design, procurement, construction, & asset management of utility-scale PV & BESS.
According to a 2024 report from McKinsey & Company: “While significant progress has been made in the nine years since the landmark Paris Agreement, the global energy transition is entering a new phase, marked by rising costs, complexity, and increased technology challenges. To successfully navigate this next phase and meet the Paris Agreement goals, urgent action will be needed and the pace of change must accelerate.”
Operations and maintenance (O&M) and asset management in the solar energy industry refer to the ongoing processes required to ensure that solar power plants operate efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively over their lifespan, which is typically 25 to 30 years or more.
Effective management is critical to the success of any renewable energy project, as they can help to extend the life of the equipment and maximize the benefits of the asset, ensuring that a renewable energy system continues to operate at maximum efficiency and reliability, which is crucial for maximizing the benefits of these systems and achieving long-term success.
Effectively managing the O&M of a renewable energy system in the early days was limited to developing a comprehensive maintenance plan that outlined the specific tasks that needed to be performed and how often they should be completed.
Early Days Of Solar Energy (1970s-1990s)
• Development Of Solar Technology: The solar industry began to take shape in the 1970s with the development of photovoltaic (PV) technology. The focus during this period was primarily on research and development, with only small-scale installations and limited adoption.
• Minimal O&M Needs: Since early installations were relatively small (e.g., rooftop systems or experimental projects).
Commercialization And Early Growth (2000s)
Early O&M services involved simple tasks such as panel cleaning, basic system inspections and inverter checks. However, the lack of sophisticated monitoring tools meant that many issues were only addressed after they affected energy production.
The early 2000s saw an increase in larger solar farms and more widespread adoption of PV technology, especially in Europe and the United States. With the expansion of solar farms, the need for more structured O&M and asset management services began to emerge. Solar operators started to recognize the importance of regular maintenance to ensure the performance of these larger systems.
Scaling And Industry Maturity (2010s)
The 2010s marked a period of rapid expansion in the solar industry, with a significant increase in both rooftop and utility-scale installations. Advances in technology, falling costs and supportive policies contributed to this growth.
As the size and complexity of solar assets increased, the provision of proficient O&M and asset management services became imperative for ensuring optimal performance. Solar operators initiated the practice of outsourcing operations and maintenance to specialized firms while maintaining the asset management functions internally.
Remote monitoring systems and software tools began to play a significant role in the overall management of solar assets during this period. These systems allowed operators to track the performance of solar installations in real time, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime, and O&M strategies shifted from reactive to preventive approaches, with regular inspections, thermographic analysis and inverter maintenance becoming standard practices.
It is also important to have a team of trained and experienced technicians who can carry out the necessary maintenance tasks safely and efficiently. But are these enough?
The answer is no!
The history of O&M in solar has evolved alongside the growth of solar energy technology, reflecting the maturing of the industry from its early stages to the present day.
Trends
As solar energy becomes a crucial source of energy, increasingly influencing the energy mix (and energy being traded), it is imperative that we adopt data-driven operations and maintenance (O&M) and asset management activities, utilizing sophisticated analytics, sensors and software to enhance the performance, reliability and lifespan of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. Operators can optimize their O&M strategies, reduce downtime and minimize operational costs by leveraging data, predictive models and machine learning.
• Digitalization And IoT: The future of solar O&M will be shaped by further digitalization. Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smart sensors and AI-driven analytics will allow operators to monitor solar plants with greater precision.
• Energy Storage Integration: As solar plants increasingly integrate battery energy storage systems (BESS), O&M will expand to include the maintenance and optimization of these storage assets.
• Sustainability And Recycling: The solar industry is also considering end-of-life management and recycling of solar panels, inverters and other components, adding new dimensions to O&M in terms of sustainability.
Technological Advancements And Optimization
- Advanced analytics and predictive maintenance
- Automation and robotics
- Performance guarantees and service contracts
- Focus on inverter maintenance
Key Elements Of Data-Driven O&M And Asset Management Services
- Real-time monitoring
- Predictive maintenance
- Performance analysis and benchmarking
- Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD)
- Automated reporting
- Remote monitoring and operations
- Soiling and weather impact monitoring
Benefits Of Data-Driven O&M And Asset Management In The Solar Industry
• Increased Energy Production: By identifying underperforming components and addressing them quickly, solar plants can produce more energy over time.
• Cost Reduction: Predictive maintenance and real-time diagnostics reduce the need for emergency repairs and extend the lifespan of equipment.
• Improved Asset Lifespan: Continuous monitoring and proactive interventions minimize wear and tear on equipment, extending its operational life.
• Faster Issue Resolution: Automated fault detection and diagnostics lead to quicker resolution of issues, reducing downtime and improving plant uptime.
Summary
O&M and asset management in the solar industry have evolved from basic, reactive maintenance in the early days of solar technology to a highly sophisticated, technology-driven field. The transition from manual cleaning and simple inspections to AI-driven predictive maintenance, robotics and advanced monitoring tools reflects the broader maturation of the solar sector. As the industry continues to grow and innovate, O&M and asset management practices will play an increasingly critical role in ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of solar energy systems.
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